Electrical connector with floating contact

Abstract

An electrical connector is provided for mounting on a printed circuit. The electrical connector includes a housing having a mating face, a mounting face, and an interior cavity. The mounting face is configured to be mounted on the printed circuit. A port extends through the mating face into the interior cavity. The interior cavity is defined by an interior wall of the housing. An electrical contact is held by the housing. The electrical contact includes a mating segment and a mounting segment. The mating segment extends within the interior cavity of the housing. The mating segment includes an exterior surface and a mating interface positioned proximate the port. At least a portion of the mounting segment extends along the mounting face of the housing for engagement with the printed circuit. A clearance exists between the exterior surface of the mating segment and the interior wall of the housing. The mating segment is movable within the interior cavity relative to the housing via the clearance.

1. An electrical connector for mounting on a printed circuit, said electrical connector comprising:
 a housing having a mating face, a mounting face, and an interior cavity, the mounting face being configured to be mounted on the printed circuit, a port extending through the mating face into the interior cavity, the interior cavity being defined by an interior wall of the housing; 
 an electrical contact held by the housing, the electrical contact comprising a mating segment and a mounting segment, the mating segment extending a length along a central longitudinal axis of the mating segment, the mating segment extending within the interior cavity of the housing, the mating segment comprising an exterior surface and a mating interface positioned proximate the port, the mating segment being configured to mate with a mating contact that extends a length along a central longitudinal axis of the mating contact, at least a portion of the mounting segment extending along the mounting face of the housing for engagement with the printed circuit; and 
 a clearance between the exterior surface of the mating segment and the interior wall of the housing, the mating segment being movable within the interior cavity relative to the housing via the clearance, the mating segment being movable via the clearance relative to the mating contact for aligning the central longitudinal axes of the mating segment and the mating contact. 
 
     
     
       2. The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the interior wall of the housing comprises two walls that intersect each other, the clearance existing between the exterior surface of the mating segment and each of the two walls, wherein the mating segment is movable relative to each of the two walls via the clearance. 
     
     
       3. The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the mating interface of the mating segment of the electrical contact comprises a socket configured to receive a mating contact of a mating connector therein, a crownband being held within the socket and positioned to engage the mating contact when the mating contact is received within the socket. 
     
     
       4. The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting segment of the electrical contact is discrete from the mating segment, the mounting segment being engaged with the mating segment. 
     
     
       5. The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting segment of the electrical contact is discrete from the mating segment, the mating segment comprising an opening, the mounting segment extending a length from an engagement end to a mounting end, the engagement end being received within the opening and engaged with the mating segment. 
     
     
       6. The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting segment of the electrical contact is discrete from the mating segment, the mating segment comprising a crownband, the mounting segment extending a length from an engagement end to a mounting end, the engagement end being engaged with the crownband. 
     
     
       7. The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting segment of the electrical contact is discrete from the mating segment, the mounting segment being engaged with the mating segment, the mating segment moving relative to the mounting segment when the mating segment moves relative to the housing. 
     
     
       8. The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical contact is configured to conduct electrical power. 
     
     
       9. The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the mating interface of the mating segment of the electrical contact comprises a socket configured to receive a mating contact of a mating connector therein. 
     
     
       10. The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the mating segment of the electrical contact extends a length along a central longitudinal axis of the mating segment, the central longitudinal axis of the mating segment extending approximately parallel to the printed circuit when the electrical connector is mounted on the printed circuit. 
     
     
       11. The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the mating segment of the electrical contact extends a length that is approximately perpendicular to a length of the mounting segment. 
     
     
       12. An electrical connector for mounting on a printed circuit, said electrical connector comprising:
 a housing having a mating face, a mounting face, and an interior cavity, the mounting face being configured to be mounted on the printed circuit, a port extending through the mating face into the interior cavity, the interior cavity being defined by an interior wall of the housing; 
 an electrical contact held by the housing, the electrical contact comprising a mating segment and a mounting segment, wherein the mating segment of the electrical contact extends a length along a central longitudinal axis of the mating segment, the mating segment extending within the interior cavity of the housing, the mating segment comprising an exterior surface and a mating interface positioned proximate the port, at least a portion of the mounting segment extending along the mounting face of the housing for engagement with the printed circuit; and 
 a clearance between the exterior surface of the mating segment and the interior wall of the housing, the mating segment being movable within the interior cavity relative to the housing via the clearance, the mating segment being movable via the clearance along two float axes that are perpendicular to each other and to the central longitudinal axis of the mating segment. 
 
     
     
       13. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
 a printed circuit; and 
 an electrical connector configured to be mounted on the printed circuit, the electrical connector comprising:
 a housing having a mating face, a mounting face, and an interior cavity, the mounting face being configured to be mounted on the printed circuit, a port extending through the mating face into the interior cavity, the interior cavity being defined by at an interior wall of the housing, wherein the interior wall of the housing comprises two walls that intersect each other; 
 an electrical contact held by the housing, the electrical contact comprising a mating segment and a mounting segment, the mating segment extending within the interior cavity of the housing, the mating segment comprising an exterior surface and a mating interface positioned proximate the port, at least a portion of the mounting segment extending along the mounting face of the housing for engagement with the printed circuit; and 
 a clearance between the exterior surface of the mating segment and the interior wall of the housing, the mating segment being movable within the interior cavity relative to the housing via the clearance, the clearance existing between the exterior surface of the mating segment and each of the two walls, wherein the mating segment is movable relative to each of the two walls via the clearance. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the mating segment of the electrical contact extends a length along a central longitudinal axis of the mating segment, the mating segment being movable via the clearance along two float axes that are perpendicular to each other and to the central longitudinal axis of the mating segment. 
     
     
       15. The assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the mating interface of the mating segment of the electrical contact comprises a socket configured to receive a mating contact of a mating connector therein, a crownband being held within the socket and positioned to engage the mating contact when the mating contact is received within the socket. 
     
     
       16. The assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the mounting segment is discrete from the mating segment, the mounting segment being engaged with the mating segment. 
     
     
       17. The assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the mounting segment of the electrical contact is discrete from the mating segment, the mating segment comprising an opening and a crownband held within the opening, the mounting segment extending a length from an engagement end to a mounting end, the engagement end being received within the opening and engaged with the crownband. 
     
     
       18. The assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the electrical contact is configured to conduct electrical power. 
     
     
       19. An electrical connector for mounting on a printed circuit, said electrical connector comprising:
 a housing having a mating face, a mounting face, and an interior cavity, the mounting face being configured to be mounted on the printed circuit, a port extending through the mating face into the interior cavity, the interior cavity being defined by an interior wall of the housing; 
 an electrical contact held by the housing, the electrical contact comprising a mating segment and a mounting segment, the mating segment extending a length along a central longitudinal axis of the mating segment, the mating segment extending within the interior cavity of the housing, the mating segment comprising an exterior surface and a mating interface positioned proximate the port, at least a portion of the mounting segment extending along the mounting face of the housing for engagement with the printed circuit; and 
 a clearance between the exterior surface of the mating segment and the interior wall of the housing, the mating segment being movable within the interior cavity relative to the housing via the clearance, the mating segment being movable via the clearance along a float axis that is perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the mating segment. 
 
     
     
       20. An electrical connector for mounting on a printed circuit, said electrical connector comprising:
 a housing having a mating face, a mounting face, and an interior cavity, the mounting face being configured to be mounted on the printed circuit, a port extending through the mating face into the interior cavity, the interior cavity being defined by opposing interior wall of the housing; 
 an electrical contact held by the housing, the electrical contact comprising a mating segment and a mounting segment, the mating segment extending within the interior cavity of the housing, the mating segment comprising an exterior surface and a mating interface positioned proximate the port, at least a portion of the mounting segment extending along the mounting face of the housing for engagement with the printed circuit; and 
 a clearance between the exterior surface of the mating segment and the opposing interior walls of the housing, the mating segment being movable within the interior cavity relative to each of the opposing interior walls via the clearance.